ernie f

[ernie f]

I folks, I have a question.

This morning there were two Brimstone Butterflies in my back garden. It is 24th March 2019.

On 23rd Feb 2019 there were also two Brimstone Butterflies in my back garden.

I did not see any Brimstones in my back garden from 27th Feb until now as the weather got very cold and windy.

So I got to thinking - are these the SAME TWO I saw in February or are they another two newly out of hibernation? In other words, can butterflies that overwinter as adults come out of their dormant phase when it is warm and then re-enter that phase when it gets cold again and then come back out of it again when it warms up again? Even if the cold spell is as much as a month?

I checked my books, the internet and also a quick search of this website but found no answers. Any ideas anyone?

[bugboy]

I would say absolutely yes Ernie. Given that our climate is so changeable and unpredictable they've evolved to be able to cope with it. The species that can't cope with our silly winters naturally aren't residents here

[David M]

Butterflies are used to sitting out spells of inclement weather, particularly springtime species, which have to withstand much more of it!!

Quite often, Brimstones will take to the air on a mild January day, but they clearly find somewhere to retreat to until temperatures rise in March.

They're pretty long-lived too - I've seen them in early June sometimes, meaning they must be around 11 months old!

[ernie f]

Thanks for your views Bugboy and David

I must admit it does seem the most likely scenario. In fact I started to think back to other occasions in the past. For example I seem to remember a time one early Autumn when it appeared the Small Copper population at Broxhead had crashed during a cold spell. But then it warmed up again and the population blossomed again. They must have just gone "into hiding". It seems then that it is not just overwintering adults that can become dormant but potentially any UK butterfly might have this ability at any time of year should the weather prevent their normal activities.

[Wurzel]

I would agree with the others Ernie - I've seen it happen as well with an OT many years ago. I know it the same one as it was an aberrant and it sat out a couple of days of inclement weather in my garden before magically reappearing with the sun.

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[ernie f]

Thanks Wurzel. I had pretty much guessed they could sit out a couple of days of bad weather - what amazes me is that my two Brimstones may have sat out almost a month of bad weather after becoming "activated" the first time during that warm February spell we had.

[ernie f]

29th March 2019, 11.15 to 12.45, Kingsley Common, 17 degrees, full sun


I had almost forgotten the delight of having a number of different species of butterfly buzzing around me pretty much at the same time. At one point I had a Peacock coming at me from one direction along the path whilst a Comma passed by both the Peacock and me going in the other direction while at the same time a Brimstone passed overhead - the Peacock then chased the Brimstone off.

Within the space of 10 minutes I had seen all this plus an Orange Tip, Small Tort and Specked Wood.

In all today at and around Kingsley:

Brimstone - 11 (3f, 8m)
O Tip - 2m
Peacock - 2
Small Tort - 1
Comma - 1
Speckled Wood - 1

Plus, in the churchyard - my first blooming bluebell of the year.

And a baby bunny who did not see me. Ah, cute.

[Wurzel]

It's a great feeling isn't it Ernie? Though I didn't haven't had the pleasure of an OT or Specklie yet this year , fingers crossed that the nice weather continues...

Have a goodun

Wurze

[David M]

I had almost forgotten the delight of having a number of different species of butterfly buzzing around me pretty much at the same time....

Indeed, ernie. It's a wonderful time when the first of the chrysalis hibernators come to join the adult overwinterers. Suddenly, your outlook and seratonin levels go sky-high and you forget that winter was only a matter of weeks ago.

Glad to see you're keeping up your tradition of a non-butterfly image....that young rabbit is extremely cute.

[ernie f]

Thanks David and Wurzel - it certainly is good to see the spring is starting to get going now.

[ernie f]

A slow warm-up today but by 1 pm the butterflies were up and about with 1 Brimstone and 1 Red Admiral at Hartley Maudit and 2 Peacock, 1 Comma and 1 Brimstone at Empshott Green.

The wooded valleys at Empshott Green are known for their Ramsons and while none were in bloom yet the smell of garlic was quite pervasive!

At Kingsley

A Grey Squirrel found a nice branch to sunbathe on.

While I watched it decided it had had enough doing one side and turned round to warm up its other side!

[Wurzel]

That squirrel is certainly enjoying the spring, it has a lovely drowsy look You did well with the Red Admiral I've only seen them on 2 occasions this year

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[David M]

I like your ‘take’ on some of your butterfly shots, ernie. Brings a different dimension to things.

I daresay the sleepy squirrel (along with the butterflies) is about to receive a rude awakening with an easterly blast about to strike! Let’s hope it’s short lived and doesn’t do too much damage.

[ernie f]

Wurzel, David

My drowsy squirrel was not quite so drowsy today. Spring had sprung and his was getting rather frisky with a female! Lots of mad dashing about in the trees.

[ernie f]

10th April 2019: Kingsley Common. 3-4 pm, 14 degrees, full sun

After yesterdays rains the butterflies were out in force (given it was only 14 degrees at max).

2 Brims, 1 Comma, 2 Peacock, 1 Specklie, 2 Orange Tips and 3 Holly Blues, the latter all in the same tree and holly hedge below.

I had never really noticed before but Peacocks markings can vary a bit. Here are two I saw today. Check out the rear "eyes" of these two.

Wood Anemones are showing well too.

[Wurzel]

Lovely set of shots Ernie especially the Holly Blue I know what you mean about the 'eyes', sometimes they look like faces and other times more like Pacman I've not seen a complete circle yet so something to keep and 'eye' out for

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[ernie f]

Wurzel - So now I have a new quest. Find a Peacock with a full circle rear eye. Of course that means finding and taking pics of hundreds of Peacock Butterflies!

[ernie f]

11th Apr 2019, 10.30-11.30am, Kingsley - 7 degrees, mostly sunny

I thought I'd try a little experiment. Because there were quite a few species flying here yesterday afternoon in 14 degree temperature I thought I would return to see what was flying at exactly the same spot but at half the temperature.

Answer - A single Specklie. Nothing else, not even a Brimstone.

Last year it was a Specklie that was my last butterfly spot of the year and was very late. It appears this species is particularly hardy.

[ernie f]

11th April 2019, 1.30-2.30 pm, 11 degrees, Full Sun: The Devils Jumps

Gloria wanted to go the Frensham Garden Centre so I dropped her off and nipped round the corner to this amazing location of heath edged with grassy rides and woods. The area around the pond is very beautiful and the hills behind are a wonder. Today I had just enough time to visit the pond area.

On the track beside the pond, three Brimstone males where having a fight. One won the location and came down to nectar from a dandelion and held its wings ajar. To my recollection I have not seen one do this before.

Same spot, two male Peacocks were jousting. They would spiral around each other high into the sky before breaking apart and descending at speed. While I was there they clashed repeatedly in this way. However one came down to sunbathe for awhile to recharge his batteries.

They are a really wonderful butterfly. Being so common it is often easy to just dismiss them and walk on. I have done this many times in the past but I am gaining a new respect for them.

The Devil’s Jumps are called that because on dark stormy nights lightening bolts jump across them as they are capped with Ironstone.

Here are some past pics from the hilltop.

Note the contortions of this Ironstone which looks as if it came out of a volcanic vent millions of years ago – but this is Surrey! Not your typical volcanic landscape it must be said. I actually haven’t bothered to look up how Ironstone is made. A nice little project.

11th April 2019, 4 pm, 13 degrees, Full Sun: Kingsley (again)

At 13 degrees we had two Specklies flying alongside 2 Peacocks, two Holly Blues and my first Small White (f) of the year. The latter had a corrugated look to its wings suggesting to me it was newly emerged.

[David M]

Some nice returns there, ernie. Looks like you've had a productive last couple of days. That's interesting behaviour from the Brimstone. Usually it's only the females which open their wings and that's generally when they're beating off the advances of a male!

Your 'Small' White is most definitely a Large White, and a female too, something I've yet to see this year.